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ChapterThree
Emma
This morning I’ve got an eight o’clock class that I’m almost late for. I knew going out last night was a gamble, and boy did I roll the dice. Meeting Beckett was insane, but kissing him was out of this world. I’d never felt so wanted before in my entire life, and the look he gave me when I walked away said it was the hardest thing he’d ever have to do.
What the heck am I going to do now? How am I possibly going to learn anything when all I can do is think about his lips on mine?
My professor is lecturing about spreadsheets and data, while I try to take notes and not think about last night. Which is clearly impossible because I notice that I’ve written Beckett’s name in the margin of my notebook. Gah, what am I, like twelve?
As soon as class is over, I grab my bag and check my phone. I see a missed call, and the number makes my stomach drop. I wait until I’m out in the hallway and away from people before I answer.
“Hello.” I glance around as I tuck myself against a window and look out at the quad.
“Hi, Emma, this is Zuri again calling about your immigration status. We’ve got your paperwork for an extension, and I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news.”
I sigh as I close my eyes and prepare for the worst.
“Since you’ve completed your scholarship and have been denied funds to continue your degree beyond the bachelors, we’re not extending your visa.”
“How long do I have?” I ask, needing to get it over with.
“We’ll email you the exact date, but it will be after graduation. You’ll have until then to make accommodations in your home country.” There’s a pause where she must be waiting for me to say something, but I don’t. “There will be opportunities to reapply in the future if you’re able to get a job in your field.”
I’ve already applied to dozens of jobs, but nobody wants to hire me based on a temporary visa. Even if I got a job, my work visa could be denied and they would have invested all that time in training an employee that they might lose. I’m too much of a risk. At least that’s what they told me at my last interview.
“Thanks,” I mumble, because what else can I say?
“I’ll email over everything now, but if you have any—”
I hang up and tuck my phone in my back pocket. What’s the point of listening to her? Zuri is nice enough, but she’s always got bad news. The more I listen to her, the more upset I’ll be. After the high of last night's kiss, I’m plummeting back to reality. One where I’m forced to leave the only stable place I’ve ever been.
In my home country, I was brought up in an orphanage because I was abandoned as a baby. I knew from the moment I could talk that if I wanted out, I had to be smart. I learned all that I could and when I got the opportunity to go to America on a scholarship visa, I jumped at the chance. I thought this would be my big break and that coming here would change my life. It has, in so many wonderful ways, but maybe it was a mistake. Now I know what’s on the other side of the looking glass, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to go back to life before I came here. How do I leave all this behind and go to a country that never felt like it fit? I’ve made friends, I’ve lived, and now I have to go back and close my heart. The thought sends tears down my cheeks, and I angrily wipe them away.
It’s not fair, but nobody ever told me life would be. All that I have is because I worked my ass off. I just have to figure out what the hell I’m going to do next.
“Hey.”
The sound of his soft voice makes my head snap up. When I see Beckett leaning against the wall in front of me, his arms crossed over his chest, I think he might not be real. That’s when I notice he’s scowling, and I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up out of me.
Am I going crazy? Maybe. My emotions are all over the place, and the absolute last thing I expected to see was the blue-eyed devil from the club last night.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
I realize there are still tears on my cheek and wipe them away. “It’s nothing. What are you doing outside my class?” I change the subject as he pushes off the wall and comes closer.
“I was waiting for you, then I saw you take a call.” He nods to my pocket. “Is everything okay?”
“What?” I stall, trying to think of a lie. “Oh, that? It was nothing. Just bad news about a final. It’s all good.”
“Hmm,” he says, and I know he’s not buying it.
“Seriously, how the hell did you find me?” His hair is wet, and I wonder if he’s fresh out of the shower. The image of him naked with soapy water running down his muscled body stirs something low in my belly.
“River.” He shrugs like it’s obvious. “Have you eaten?” As if on cue, my stomach growls, and he grins. “Want to grab some food before your next class?”
I check my watch and see I’ve got some time until my lab. “A little,” I hedge, not sure I’m truly believing what I’m seeing. Has this gorgeous man really tracked me down just to have breakfast with me? And what about that kiss? I’m weak in the knees remembering his lips on mine.
As if he’s thinking the same thing, he walks right up against me until my back is pressed to the wall. “A little is all I need, baby.” He leans down, and this time when he kisses me, he slides his tongue against mine.
He’s so big and strong as he holds my face and devours me like I’m his last meal. God, I’ve never felt anything so overwhelming, and all I want to do is wrap my body around his and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist.
When I moan, he smiles against my lips and then takes a step back. I’m in a fog of lust as he takes my hand and leads me out of the building.
“Now let me feed you while you tell me what that phone call was really about.”
